A firmware update for the Nintendo Wii rendered Datel’s Freeloader disc completely useless yesterday. Freeloader lets users play imported games on the GameCube and, until yesterday, the Wii. Following the update, the Freeloader… she is dead. Yup, now gamers who want to play imported GameCube titles on their Wii will have to get one of those warranty-voiding, sure-to-be-made-illegal-everywhere modchips.

Needless to say, Nintendo has no interest in “fixing” its mistake. Since Freeloader is unlicensed software, software that ruins Nintendo’s whole region-specific release racket, the company can’t be bothered to remedy the situation.

The GameCube was too hard to pirate anyway.

Wii update breaks Freeloader [Eurogamer.net via GamesIndustry.biz]